Flathead takes first in Helena

Flathead High School won its second straight speech and debate meet at the Helena City of Gold Invitational Friday and Saturday.

Flathead finished the weekend with 134 points, well ahead of second-place Glacier High School’s 97 points and third-place Bozeman’s 83 points.

Every Class AA school competed at the tournament, some with varsity and junior varsity squads. Only the Kalispell Invitational, which takes place this weekend at Flathead and Glacier, will exceed the Helena meet’s registration numbers.

“This was a great win for us,” Flathead head coach Kala Lougheed said. “It was a good morale booster to win again heading into our home tournament.”

Glacier head coach Greg Adkins said his team’s performance was “pretty solid.”

“We have to be more balanced, with points coming from every event, but I’m pleased at the improvement of a few of [our] younger squads,” he said.

Both coaches anticipate an exciting meet this weekend.

“We are looking forward to a great tournament here in Kalispell,” Lougheed said. “Look for it to be a very close meet between our team and Glacier. It’s going to continue to be close all season.”

Adkins agreed.

“All year, we are going to battle Bozeman and Flathead, every round, every tournament, every moment,” he said. “This is the most fun and the most interesting speech season that I can remember.”

Individual results

n Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate — 2. Sam Watson, Flathead; 3. John Patrick, Glacier; 5. Mary Snipstead, Glacier

n Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate — 3. Serena Brosten, Glacier

n Novice Policy Debate — 3. Levi Proctor and Austin Patrick, Glacier; 7. Mariah Gladstone and Lauren Jones, Glacier

n Legislative Debate — 2. Montana Ziglar, Glacier; 8. Reece Erickson, Glacier

n Public Forum — 1. Hannah Wahlert and Natalie Pursell, Flathead

n Extemporaneous Speaking — 1. Maxine Sugarman, Flathead; 2. Mariah Schuster, Flathead; 4. Colleen Hoag, Glacier; 5. Jon Alan Osborne, Flathead; 7. Quinn Maroney, Glacier

n Impromptu Speaking — 1. Maxine Sugarman, Flathead; 3. Tucker Connell, Glacier

n Humorous Oral Interpretation — 2. Natalie Griffin, Flathead; 5. Kyle Decker, Flathead

n Serious Oral Interpretation — 1. Caroline Houser, Glacier; 2. Natalie Griffin, Flathead; 4. Austin Peppenger, Glacier; 6. Cory Markellis, Glacier

n Duo Interpretation — 2. Cory Markellis and Clayton McDougall, Glacier

n Original Oratory — 1. Abby Connolly, Glacier; 3. Tierney Strandberg, Flathead; 6. Juan-Pablo Gevaudan, Glacier

n Memorized Public Address — 1. Dawson Lynch, Flathead; 2. Caroline Houser, Glacier; 3. Accacia Gardner, Flathead; 4. Tierney Strandberg, Flathead; 8. Brianna Larson, Glacier

n Expository Speaking — 2. Danielle Bowen, Flathead; 3. Danyelle Moore, Glacier; 5. Sonya Brosten, Glacier; 6. Tess Barker, Flathead; 7. Kayla Nelson, Glacier